Every Bullet Has a Name Chapter Twenty-One and Epilogue
Previously:
"Nick," Chelsie reached out and touched his arm. "While I do have feelings for you-always have-I cannot marry you…. Or anyone else. I just can't." A look of resignation and sadness filled her eyes as she lowered them.
Nick was bothered by the look in her eyes, and how softly she'd spoken the words. "Why? Tell me why, and I won't push you only help me understand."
Chelsie came out of her thoughts as she turned her head and saw Nick and Heath riding towards the house. She hadn't been able to get herself to answer his questions then only, out of all the men she'd ever met-she knew she needed to explain things to him-as she really did love him. She stood up and started towards the two brothers only to find herself screaming as she heard a shot ring out, and saw Nick fall off his horse.
Victoria, who had been at the orphanage, had practically run into the house when Ciego told her what had happened. Now, the Barkley matriarch was doing her best not only to remain calm but get Chelsie to sit down on the sofa. She had been pacing the living room floor when Victoria entered the home. "This is not going to help Nick or anyone else." She gestured towards the sofa. Only after Chelsie consented to sit down did Victoria turn to Heath. "Do you have any idea who did this? Was anyone seen?"
"McColl saw someone. He grabbed Jarrod-who came running out of the house once he heard the shot- and took off in the direction McColl saw the man, only he couldn't give any real details; the person was too far away to identify. I had Ciego ride for the doctor while I took Nick up to his room." Heath, who had wanted nothing more than to go after whoever had shot Nick would have done so only Jarrod wouldn't hear of it.'With Mother away, you need to stay with him.' Those had been Jarrod's exact words.
"It had to have been…." Chelsie started to speak only to have a knock come at the door. Heath hurried to open it.
"McColl!" Heath couldn't help but let out a surprised exclamation. "Did you and Jarrod get the man?"
"Yes." McColl nodded. "Jarrod's taking him to the sheriff." McColl couldn't hold back a small chuckle. Naturally, they all demanded to know what was so funny.
"Well, I had this rope on my horse and.." McColl grinned. "Let's say I can still throw a rope, and Jarrod-in spite of his profession- can still hog tie anything-or anyone-he wants to." That made them all grin only the grins quickly left when McColl grew serious and added, "Sorry, can't tell you who the man was. He refused to give his name." He then asked Chelsie to describe Mr. Lane only to have Dr. Merar start descending the stairs. Naturally, all their eyes went to the good doctor.
"Dr. Merar?" Victoria and Chelsie, who had quickly risen to her feet, asked at the same time.
"I got the bullet out; he should be fine in time." The good man wasn't surprised when relief flooded through the family's faces. "He's sleeping right now, only you, young lady, need to go up there and sit with him. I wasn't able to do a thing for him until I promised to have you be the first one in the room." The good doctor had thought nothing of the request since he, like everyone else in town, thought the marriage to be a real one. That fact made him wonder about the slightly confused look in Victoria's eyes-though he wasn't about to go into 'that territory'. "The rest of you can see him too, just don't go all at once. That is, once he's awake-which could be anytime or a few hours. I've had enough experience to refrain from giving you a specific time that will happen. I'll be back tomorrow." He then let himself out.
"Mrs. Barkley…it's your place…" Chelsie, who had a look of someone who was more than torn, started to speak only to have Victoria stop her.
Victoria, who had had no problem seeing what was happening between Nick and Chelsie, didn't have to wonder why her middle son had made such a request. "He asked for you, specifically. I will, naturally, go up with you and see for myself he's okay. I and Heath, along with Jarrod when he gets home, will take turns checking in on him."
"Of course!" Chelsie smiled wide and then hurried up the stairs with Victoria close behind her. Once inside, she wasted no time in going to Nick's bedside. She reached out and covered his hand with hers. Only when Victoria had seen for herself that Nick was resting comfortably, and left the room, did Chelsie begin to speak. "You have to be okay, Nick, you just have to." She then hesitantly admitted she had fallen in love with him. "Only Nick, I can't bear children. I can't even try…. trying to birth any child would kill me for sure. The doctor said so." She fought back her tears. "I had an extremely bad accident after we parted ways. It should have killed me, don't know why it didn't. You deserve..." She shook her head as tears began flowing down her cheeks. "Don't even know why I'm saying this now, just going to have to repeat myself when you wake up. My word, this may not even be over yet. If that man Jarrod is taking to the sheriff isn't Thomas…" She sat down on the chair the good doctor must have put next to the bed and closed her eyes.
While Chelsie had not realized it, Nick had actually been conscious enough to hear the majority of what she'd said. Slowly, he opened his eyes. "I deserve you...I love you. We'll work things out together." Nick spoke slowly as he turned his hand in order to hold onto hers.
"Nick!" Chelsie cried out in relief and laid her head on his chest.
Nick smiled and closed his eyes once more, but not before silently thinking, 'Thomas will get what he deserves the moment I'm strong enough to get out of this bed. Just wait and see.'
Epilogue
Nick didn't have to worry about going after Thomas-who had indeed shot him. Not three days after Thomas had been arrested for the attempt on Nick's life, Fred Madden was knocking on the door. His exact words had been 'Someone slipped into the alley last night and shot Mr. Lane through the barred cell window. We never saw who did it, only a note had been slipped through the bars. Only thing it said was 'Hisbullet found him.' Naturally, some people gossiped that the Barkleys had something to do with it. Those people were quickly shut up by the law who had gathered just enough evidence to feel strongly the railroad people were involved, but never got enough proof to arrest anyone.
"You ready for tomorrow?" Nick smiled as he walked up behind Chelsie, who was leaning against the corral fence watching the horses 'playing' inside the fenced in area.
"Yes...and no." Chelsie turned to face Nick, who quickly slid his arms around her waist. "I... are you sure, Nick? I told you... I can't even try for children."
"I'm more than sure. I love you, please don't back out of the wedding. We can see another doctor. If he says the same thing as the doctor who treated you before, we can adopt...and I will be faithful to you. Deal?" Nick pulled her close.
"Deal!" Chelsie barely got the one word out before Nick was kissing her.
After their wedding, Nick and Chelsie made a trip to a specialist in San Francisco. After a physical examination and multiple tests, the couple was told that-while the first doctor had been wrong when it came to the first part of his assessment-the chances of Chelsie actually carrying a child full term was still extremely unlikely. 'You can try only we guarantee nothing'. With that, Nick and his wife had left for their honeymoon.
After five years of trying for children-and three miscarriages-Nick and Chelsie adopted four sisters whose parents had been killed in a freak stagecoach accident. Five years after the adoption the Barkleys were elated when Chelsie actually carried...and safely delivered...Nicolas Jonathan Barkley Jr. It was a miracle that, as the couple said, made their family feel complete.
